Adjustable auxiliary shank for shoes.



M, E. NORMANDIN.

ADJUSTABLE AUX-ILIARY SHANK FOR SHOES.

JPPLIcATIo'N ULEB MAR.31,1913.

m0919696., Patented Mar. s1, 1914.

' STATES entrenar onirica /IGICIL E. NORMANDEN, Oli' LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

ADJUSTABLE AULLIA'RY SHANK FOR SHOES.

implication filed Starch 31, i813. Serial No. 757,723..

'bffZZ/iotonmft meg/concern.: g

lle it known that ll, lifi'rniini, E. Nor- .ranning a citizen of Canada,y and residing in the city of Los Angeles, county of Los Angeles, and State of California, have invented a new and useful improvement in adjustable Auxiliary Shanks for Shoes, oit which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shoe Shanks, and the principal object is to provide a shoe shank having means vto adjust the saine,qso that the instep may be altered to accommodate variations in the pedal arch Without afitecting the external appearance of the shoe. it is a further objectto provide a shoe shank that Will positively support and main-- tain the desired shape of the shoe intermediate the heel and the ball thereof., together vvith adjusting; means to properly fit the shoe to accommodate changes due J to Wear or loss of resiliency in the shank. i

ln the drawings accompanying this specification Figure l is an elevation of a shoe showing' the sole and upper broken away, this .invention being disclosed in side elevation in relation to the shoe. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the outer sole 'With the invention applied thereto. Fig. 3 is a detail section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2. Figu 4 is a detail section view of a modification showin-,giI an upset threaded bore formed of the metal composing the shank. Fig. 5 is plan view of the same. i More specifically in the drawings, 5 designates a shoe having a sole 6 connected with the heel 7, the intermediate portion unsupported or not resting ontheground commonly called the instep, having applied intermediate the two portions of the sole forming the sanie the metallic shank 8, preferably strucliup from a sheet o'f stift' light Weight metal, or 'formed of other material. The sides 9 intermediate of the two ends of the plate are bent up at right angles to form a truss or brace to the plate, that its arched form will not be readily broken down. This shank or reinforcement to the instep is preierably providcd with a bore reinforced by a block 1G ot sufficient thickness to carry enough threads therein and vertically disposed there-throug'h to carry an adjusting screw 11, the head of which extends outside a portion of the sole forming' the instep, and

adapted to be concealed by means of a iiap of lcatherlQ i'orinedr-bya scart' in the outer sole. An auxiliary member or shank having a hump 19 against the underside 'ist is also formed ci metal, may be arched, and is preferably so-hent longitudinally it forms a smooth surface under the inner solo l5 with which it is permanently in contact. To fix this member lllin relation to the shank 8, suitable fastenings 16 are carried through the two members, preferably at the heel poi-tion, and shown as securingthe two members to the heel. The toe end oi this memberis free, but the shank proper is secured to the sole portion by suitableiiistenings.

"ln order to apply more resiliency to the lauxiliary member and form a bearing surface for ythe ,screwl to take up upon, the

metallic strip 17 is secured t0 the under surface of the auxiliary member l/i by means of the rivets 18, this member being prefer ably formed similar to a leaf spring auf;

o which the screw l1 bears.

To provide a cheaper form of shank, and Where the metal is not oi' suiiicient thickness to form enough threads for theengagemcnt of the screw, the metal adjacent the point where it is desired to place the adjusting screw is upset to form a plurality of tongues 20 and 2l, whose adjacent portions are formed parallel with the inner surface of the plate, the metal being threaded, and the threaded portions of these tongues, form a greater bearirg surface, and. also when pressure is applied tothe screw, tend to force these tongues in more. positive engagement at the threaded portion of the screw, and securely lock or bind the latter in fixed adjustment.

The invention will be readily understood from the description and drawings, it being possible to alter the shape of the instep ci shoes having this invention applied th fr, .so that individual variations in a dierent pair of feet may be accommodated, or tend' cncy to flat foot may loe-corrected, and the loss of resiliency due to use and possible crystallization in component members of theshanlr which would permit their flattening out or failure, may be taken up als desired by means of the adjustment.

That l claim is: '1. In combination with a shoe having;l an inner and outer solo, a metallic shank rigidly` .secured to the upper tace of the outer gole .adjacent the instep portion, said shank being` disposed between the two soles, a veaillent member mounted longitudinally nu wie' l* said shank, one end of said member-*being r1g1dl secured thereto, and adjutmg nieens opera 1e from the exterior ofi said shoe adapted to raise orlower said resilient niembelr to alter the conguratlon of the mner so e.

2. In combination with a shoe having an -inner and outer sole, a metallic shank rigidly secured to the upper `face of jthe outer sole adJacent the instepportlon, said shank be-y 4 ing disposed between the two soles, a spring member mounted longitudinally L on said .shank, one end of said member being rigidly secured thereto, a second spring-'member mounted on the under face of the first spring member, and adjusting means operable from the exterior of said., shoe ,and adapted to raise or lower said spring members to alterthe configuration of the inner sole.

V f e Witnes's'esnl 3. In combinatlon with a shoe having an I inner and outer sole, a metallic shank rigidly secured Vto the upper faeeof the outer -sole adgyaeent the instep portion, sald shank bef ing disposed between the two soles, a spring member mounted longitudinally on said 25 ber to alter the coniguratio'n of the inner sole.

In'witness thatL-I claim the foregoingl have hereunto subscribed my name this 17th day of March, 1913.

MARIE BA'rrnY.' 1 

